Suction cleaning apparatus.



W. G. TRAUTMAN. SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1912.

' 1,293;250, Patented Feb. 4,1919.

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To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER G. TRAUT- MAN a subject of the Emperor of Germany,

residing at Cleveland, in the county of ,rGuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented Specification of Letters ratent.

object the increase of efliciency and adapt ability of apparatus of this class.

More particularly, my improvements relate to a rotary fan especially designed for this particular use; means for converting a portable vacuum cleaning device, so that it may be used with a hose either for blowin or vacuum cleaning. For this purpose,

- tu ular telescoping handle-members are provided which may also be used Wlth a manually-actuated nozzle and through which conducting cords normally run to the portable machine, connecting with a removable switch at the end ofthe handle. An adjustment acting .through a pivoted supporting wheel, serves to elevate and depress the nozzle of the portable cleaner; said wheel being normally actuated against a termi 'fnally. slotted adjusting screw by means of a spring.

These features, together with other details. of construction and the mode of operation, may be fully explained'in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a view in side e1evation,. partially broken away, illustrating a portable 'vacuum cleaning device equipped with .my

, improvements;

Fig. 2- is a transverse sectional view through'the. fan-chamber; a

Fig. :3 is a longitudinal sectional view,

partiallyjbroken away, on line 33, 2;

-Fig. 4" is a' vertical section through thefan on lim t-4, Fig.

2 g Fig. 5 1s a longitudinal sectional yiew 1 through the convertible member attached to the blower-orifice of the fan, and

Fig. 6 is a-fragmentary. sectional view, partiall broken away, showing the ad]ust- 1n mee 'anism.

hroughout the several figures of the drawings, I have emplo ed the same char+ acterof reference to in 'cate similar parts.

i Fig.1 may .fir'st be referred to, because Patented net. a, rare.

Application .flled June 10, leis. Serial no. 702,915.

of its illustration of the assembled improve- ,ments. The portable vacuum cleaner shown therein, is mounted upon three wheels at a; the rear wheel of which is made adjustable. The rearward section of the casing b con-.

'tains the usual electric motor connected with the fan a rotating within its casing or fanchamber 0. The forward portion 03 of said casing, terminates in the vacuum cleaning nozzle d shown with a removable brushattachment d positioned thereon, while the opening 01 registering with the rotary fan,

is closed by the screw-cap d.

A pivoted fork e receives the lowermost of the tubular telescopic handle-members e e through which the conducting cords e are normally led to connect with the con- .tacts b' upon the motor casing. A remov able. switch etis inserted within the end threaded opening d in the position shown by the dotted lines. Fig. 3. Thus,- the hose connection may be equippedwith any suitable form of nozzle or tool and used either for a blower attachment or suction cleaner. Accordingly, said member g, being adapted to fit tightly against its beveled seat within the fan-chamber and exteriorl of the dis charge-nozzle, is convertible either for use as a suction or blowerattachment.

The fan, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, comprisesa disk '5 mounting a central cone e'" and some five e ipsoidal vanes 5. These yanes are centrally cut away at an inclination with the axis of thefa'n to form. diagonal edges tfi'the cut away ortions representing a} hollow cone of substantially the 0 is provided for connection with the orifice 1s mounted eccentrically within the cylindrical fan-chamber 0, thus affording wide clearance peripherally, larly in the region of discharge nozzle 0 The purpose of this particular construction is to afford meansfor disposing of the and more particuthe outlet 0 to the difi'erent classes of refuse, commonly sucked up by a vacuum cleaning device without clogging the fan. I have found that a fan of this construction affording a cofilical open space connecting directly with t e inchnes of the solid rear cone, is well adapted to divert the bulk of the solid particles without interferin with the action of the fan. The sharpene edges of the vanes, however, are adapted to tear or cut materials which tend to clog the fan, while the air-currents produced by the vanes, sweep the various particles of refuse from betweenthe ellipsoidal Wit the convertible member 9 and its hose connection 71. positioned over said orifice, the screw-cap 6Z4 preferably is removed to afl'ord a direct circulation ofair for the fan and blowing attachment. If, on the other hand, said convertible member g is screwed within the .front openingd, the

interior passage to the vacuum cleanin nozzle is closed by the sleeve-like extenslon g of said member, and ,the suction will be efiected through the connected hose and nozzle, for the purpose of cleaning hangings,

. side walls and the like.

lid

In order to adjust the height of the nozzle d and its brush-attachment, I provide the screw a at the rear of the'casin whichis terminally-slotted at a, thereby a aptin' it toengage with and temporarily loc against a rib a, providedupon the pivoted frame a, mounting the rear wheel a. This frame is'normally maintained in close engagement with the adjusting screw, by

means of the spring a, whereby the inclinations of the frame ma be sultably varied to raise or lower the orwardly positioned nozzle, and thereb adapt the same for efiicient service with oor coverings of different thickness and texture. This adjustment is well indicated in Figs. 1 and 6;-the screwa in the latter 'figure begin shown turned so as to exhibit its slotted eh while the dotted hne designates the position of the edge of the rib" at, when the screw is turned oneilii tially rotating about the axis ofthe front uarter around to accommodate said rib. e nozzle'd will be raised or lowered, parfor a vacuum clean vanes and through the orifice 0 into ,the ba f.

1 frame, substantlally as set i macaw wheels a, accordingly as the rear wheel a and its pivotal bracket tended by the action of the screw.

From the foregoing, great adaptability and efliciency are secureyi ing appliance when equipped with my improvements which I have above described in their preferred embodiment and desire to claim in their broader application, as follows p 1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with the fan-chamber of a vacuum cleaning device, of, a rotary fan comprising a central cone-shaped body and.

a plurality of vanes convergin thereto, eccentrically positioned within t e fan chamber; said vanes being centrally cut away opposite said body substantially in the form of a similar cone, an associated vacuum-cleannozzle and: means for rotating said fan,

111% su stantially as set forth.

are rgtracted or ex:

it will be seen'that I 2. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a vacuum cleaning nozzle,

of a communicating fan-chamber, a rotary fan therein, comprising a central coneshaped body and a plurality of vanes of semi-ellipsoidal shape converging thereto; said vanes being centrally cutaway opposite said bpdy substantially in the form of a similar cone, and means for'rotating said fan, substantially as set forth.

' 3. In apparatus of the class described, the combinatlon with a portable vacuum cleaning device, including .a fan-chamber 0 en at the front thereof, itsrotary fan and a ischarge-nozzle for said fan-chamber, of a tubular converting member and its hose-connection; said member being adapted to fit within said front openin or upon the dischzrgle-nozzle, substantia y as set forth.

he combination with a portable suctioh cleaning appliance having a forwardly positioned suctlon nozzle, of forward and rear wheels whereon said appliance travels, a pivoted bracket mounting the rear wheel, a spring tensioned against the bracket and an adjusting-screw acting upon said bracket to'alter its angular relation with respect to; vthe apphance, whereb the height of the nozzle maybe adjuste forth.

5. In apparatus-of the class described, the combination with a portable vacuum cleaning appliance, of a plurality of wheels for supportin the same, a pivoted frame mounting one 0 said wheels, an adjusting screw slotted at its bearing end, a rib en aging the substant ally as set slot, and a spring acting against t e pivoted orth. 6, In apparatus of the class described,-the

combinatlon with a vacuum cleaning appli-- of'two forward wheels adjacent to the" cleaning nozzle thereof, a pivoted frame ance,

rearwardly supporting said appliance, a wheel mounted therein,'an adjusting screw spring normall the front to the cleaning fanchamber,

vertible-member adapted to replace the cap 'combinatio with a portable vaccum cleanpivoted frame, and a v y .mamtaining the engagement. of said frame with the adjusting screw,

acting against the substantially as set forth.

or fit the discharge nozzle, said member hav ing a sleeve extending to the fan-chamber,

and extension for attaching a nection, substantially as set forth.

8. In a paratus of the class described, the

hose con ingdevice, i uding a fan-chamber having a beveled opening, a discharge 'nozzle there- .for, "and' a forwardly positioned vacuum of a bevele'd-sleeve-like cleaning nozzle, convertible member and hose-connection; said member being adapted to fit within the opening and close the passage to the cleanin nozzle, or fit upon the discharge nozzle,

su stantially as set forth.

suction *cleaningappliance of the -tion of the outlet'opening', su

class described, including a Y inlet opening, afl'ordmg a class described, including a fan disk mount ing semi-ellipsoidal vanes centrally cut away, a motor directly connected for (hlV- ing the fan, and a fan chamber with inlet and outlet openings wherein said fan is eccenjrically positioned opposite the inlet opening, aflordin clearance for the an increasin in the direcset forth.

10. A suction cleaning appliance of the semi-ellipsoidal vanes, nected for driving the with inlet and outlet fan is eccentrically a motor directly con fan, and a fan chamber openings wherein the positioned opposite the 1ng-peripheral clearance r the fan in the direction of the outlet opening andof the convexity of the vanes, substantially as set forth. I 4 In testimony signature in presence of two witnesses.

'WALTER G. TRAUTMAN.

Witnesses: a

P. A. Game j ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.

a graduated peripheral 85 tantially as I an' formed of 40 graduated increaswhereof I do now afiix' my to 

